The plane crash in Aberdare(Image: AAIB)

Pilot seriously injured after plane crashes in Welsh airfield

by · Wales Online

A pilot was left with serious injuries after a plane crashed in an airfield in Wales. The incident happened at Rhigos airfield when the pilot encountered fuel problems as he tried to land the small aircraft at Rhigos Airfield near Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf on August 3.

A report by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) this week said the pilot, a 77-year-old man, was practicing approaches to the airfield when on the second approach, at about 9.45am on the day, he reduced throttle and set the carburettor heat to on. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter.

Shortly after the engine stopped he noticed that fuel mixture had been cut instead of the carburettor heat being set to on. He reset the mixture to rich and tried restarting the engine, the AAIB said, but it ran for only a few seconds, by which time he was slow and low on final approach. The aircraft then struck a bank which formed part of the airfield boundary.

The AAIB said the pilot suffered "serious facial and spinal injuries" and its report found the aircraft, a Jodel made in 1969, had problems with its fuel supply. It comes after a plane crashed into Rhigos Mountain on Wednesday, though no injuries were sustained.